The Ashram’s corridors were glowing crimson reflecting the Sun’s early morning rays. The campus was abuzz with a variety of sounds – while a group of students were chanting Veda mantras at the temple, another group was busy preparing breakfast, and another was preparing the auditorium for the morning Satsang. Swamiji was on his way to the temple when one of the disciples joined him, paid his respects and started complaining about his fellow Sishyas.
The disciple said – “Swamiji, few of my friends poke fun at me. It’s become very frequent in the past few days. They have to change their behaviour”. He went on to list a few examples. Swamiji asked – “When you are walking in the road on a hot day, do you keep complaining about the Sun and the Earth? Does not the Sun heat the earth, and while you walk the Earth passes some of the heat to you?” The disciple replied – “No Swamiji, I don’t because I always wear a slipper when I walk. Swamiji smiled and concluded – “Son, you should understand that changing yourself, is like wearing slippers, while trying to change others is like carpeting the whole earth to avoid the heat. I understand the childishness of the other disciples. I will speak to them, if necessary, however always focus on improving yourself, not complaining. The disciple understood his fallacy. Both of them entered the temple for the morning Puja.
Based on the book “Perennial Wisdom through Stories” by Swami Ananda Saraswati
Compiled by Anantha Padmanabhan